Platform adjustment.



J. C. FLIGHT.

PLATFORM ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION FILED Aug-20. I913.

men t ea M1213,

Zwtgy THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON u. c.

JAMES CHARLES FLIGHT, OF SWAN HILL, "VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

PLATFORM ADJUSTMENT.

Application filed August 20,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES CHARLES FLIGHT, ofSwan Hill, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, farmer,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Attachable toIflatform Adjustments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in strippers, stripper-harvestersand like machines and has been devised for the purpose providingexceedingly simple and efficient means for raising and lowering thecombs to accommodate grain crops of varying heights. t

N ow the present invention provides a slmple and strong mechanism whichis actuated by chain and sprocket gearing from the main wheel and iseasily controlledby a slight movement of a lever located adjacent to thedrivers seat.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood referencewill now be had to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a view in plan of the improvements comprised in thepresent invention and shows their adaptation to part of an existing typeof stripper which is indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail View showing part of the controllever and part of the automatic means for throwing the lever to the OHposition. Fig. a is a detail view showing part of the operating leverand also showing the same fitted with an attachment for preventing theaccidental operation of the comb.

111 these drawings like characters of reference have been employed toindicate similar parts in the different views and the numeral 1designates a curved rack the teeth of which engage with a pinion 2fitted to a short spindle 3 mounted transversely in bearings t fitted tothe top of the main frame 5 of the machine. The said spindle 3 alsocarries a pinionor worm wheel 6 which gears with a worm 7 on alongitudinally disposed shaft 8 mounted revolubly in bearings 9 fittedto the frame. The said shaft 8 is located at one side of the rack 1 andits rear end is fitted with a bevel gear 10 having bevel teeth adaptedto engage oppositely disposed bevel pinions 11 carried on a transverseshaft 12. The forward bearing 9 preferably comprises a center screw 13which can llatented Apr. 13.,

1913. Serial No. 785,766.

be adjusted to any degree of nicety in a bracket 11- and retained in adesired position by a jamb nut 15. The inner end of said shaft 12carrying the bevel pinions 11 is fitted with a sprocket wheel 16 whichis connected by a chain 17 to a sprocket 18 fitted to the hub 19 of themain wheel 20.

Any approved form of tension or adjustment device can be employed toregulate or take up the slack of, or free the chain 17.

The bevel pinions 11 normally are arranged to run free on the shaft 12and are adapted to impart motion to the bevel gear 10 in differentdirections when engaged by a clutch 21 slidably mounted on the saidshaft. The said clutch 21 may slide on a feather key (not shown) and itsends are formed with jaws 22 corresponding with teeth 23 on the innerfaces of the pinions. The said clutch 21 is moved from side to side toengage either of the said pinions by an arm 24 fitted to the rear end ofa shaft 25 disposed longitudinally beneath the frame and mounted inbearings 26. The lower end of an operating lever 27 is fitted rigidly tothe shaft 25 and projects upwardly through the frame 5 in advance of theface wheel. The said lever 27 may be slotted at 28 (see Fig. 3) toaccommodate the longitudinally disposed shaft 8 and it can be retainedin its central or other position by a quadrant 29 fitted to the top ofthe main frame. The shaft 25 is provided with a laterally projecting arm30 having at its end a jaw 31 which is adapted to engage loosely acurved rod 32 fitted to the movable frame 33 of the machine and to theupper end of the said rack 1.

The curved rod 82 is fitted at approved positions with adjustable stops34 which are arranged to press the arm 30 downwardly or upwardly whenthe comb 35 is nearing its lowest or highest elevation.

The downward or upward movement of the said arm 30 causes the lever 27to be swung over to the central position thereby throwing the mechanismout of gear auto matically and preventing injury or breakage of theparts thereof.

If preferred the operating lever 27 can be fitted with an additionaldevice to prevent the accidental operation of the comb due to gravity orthe jar incident to travel such as a hand lever 36 and spring actuatedpawl 87 adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 38 fitted to the shaft 8. Whenthe lever 27 is held by the quadrant 29 and the pawl 87 is engaged bythe ratchet wheel 38 the longitudinally disposed shaft 8 is held rigidlyin position against rotation and consequently the pinion 2 meshing withthe curved rack 1 cannot move until the pawl 37 is released and thelever operated thereby preventing any accidental movement of the comb.Owing to the arrangement of the parts, the pawl 37 will mesh with theratchet wheel 38 only when the lever 37 is engaged by the quadrant 29.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing description that thecomb can be quickly raised and lowered by moving the operating lever 27to and from the driver and that the force required will be very slightand furthermore, that eflicient provision is made for preventing themechanism raising or lowering the comb beyond the limit of the rack.

While I have described in the foregoing specification the constructionof parts and operations preferred, I am aware that numerous changes ofconstruction and operation may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself by the positive terms employed inconnection with the description, excepting such as the state of the artmay require.

What I do claim is 1. In a raising and lowering device for the combs ofagricultural machines combination with a curved rack fitted to a movablepart of the machine, of a pinionfitted to a transverse spindle, a wormwheel on said spindle meshing with a worm on a longitudinal shaft, agear wheel on the end of said longitudinal shaft, bevel pinions engagingsaid gear wheel and mounted on a transverse shaft, a double clutch toengage said pinions, a lever for operating said clutch, gearing fortransmitting motion from the main wheel or axle to the said shaft, andmeans for throwing said clutch out of gear automatically when the curvedrack has reached the limit of its travel, said means comprising an armrigidly connected to the operating lever, a jaw on the outer end of saidarm, a rod fitted to the movable part of the machine frame and engagedby said jaw, and stops on said rod for engaging said jaw, substantiallyas described.

2. In a raising and lowering device for the comb of agriculturalmachines combination with a curved rack fitted to a movable part of themachine, of a pinion fitted to a transverse spindle, a worm wheel onsaid spindle meshing with a worm on a longitudinal shaft, a gear wheelon the end of said longitudinal shaft, bevel pinions engaging said gearwheel and mounted on a transverse shaft, a double clutch to engage saidpinions, a lever for operating said clutch, gearing for transmittingmotion from the main wheel or axle to the said shaft, an arm fitted tothe operating lever or shaft carrying the same, a jaw or the like on theouter end of said arm, a rod fitted to the movable part of the machineframe and engaged by said jaw, and stops on said rods, substantially asdescribed and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JAMES CHARLES FLIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. J. OALLINAN, T. O. RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. I

